We're responsible for the public sewers including manholes and covers, so any blockages or flooding problems from the public sewer would be dealt with by us. There's more information on our sewer flooding page about responsibilities, what causes sewer flooding, and how we can help.

If you’re a homeowner, you’re responsible for pipework inside your home and for private drains on your land, therefore you may want to consider taking out an insurance policy to cover you for emergencies like a burst pipe or blocked drain.

You should first check if your existing home insurance or other policies provide the cover that suits your needs.

We work with HomeServe, one of the UK’s leading home assistance providers, who offer a range of home emergency solutions including Plumbing and Drainage Cover. Our customers can get offers here.

Sewers are pipes which carry waste from more than one property.

Drains are pipes which carry waste from a single property to the sewer. These become lateral drains when they extend beyond the boundary of the property.

Find out who owns what on our sewer responsibility page.